From exploitation to empowerment: The quiet battle being fought by Sneha Bharti and her NGO Purnkuti

IN the dark dingy lanes of India’s red-light districts, countless women and children live lives defined by exploitation, invisibility, and inherited trauma. Among them are young girls born into the trade, women trapped by poverty, deceit, or coercion, and children who grow up exposed to abuse and neglect. These spaces, though vibrant and full of life on the surface, often conceal heartbreaking stories of suffering. Here smiles and make up are just a fascade camouflaging years and years of pain.

Sneha Bharti before being exposed to the harsh realities of a world where women are bought and sold like commodities and suffer unimaginable pain, had a promising corporate career. But she chose to leave it behind and started Purnkuti. And with this, made it her life’s mission to rehabilitate and reintegrate women and children from red-light areas. Her journey is a powerful example of how one person’s determination can ignite change in the lives of hundreds and how compassion, when coupled with action, can transform entire communities.

The inception of a mission

Sneha Bharti’s work didn’t begin with grand plans. It began with empathy. She began noticing a stark pattern where women from marginalised communities lived a life no one should deserve and more so the ones trapped in red-light areas. Women with bruised bodies and deadened eyes returning to their homes, and children who couldn’t focus in school due to the trauma they carried. Women forced into sex work, often trafficked from rural areas or trapped by debt bondage.

What pained Sneha most was the intergenerational cycle of exploitation. Daughters of sex workers were statistically far more likely to be inducted into the trade themselves. These children, growing up in an environment of abuse and addiction, rarely found access to quality education or healthcare. For the women, there was often no way out, no alternate livelihood, no financial independence, and no social acceptance.

Sneha knew this wasn’t just a social issue—it was a humanitarian crisis. That realisation gave birth to Purnkuti.

A safe exit. A new beginning…

Purnkuti offers a comprehensive support system. The NGO works on two parallel tracks: Rehabilitating women from Red-Light Areas providing the the skill and financial support they need to break the shackles of exploitation. And the providing safe childhoods and education for children in these communities

For women who have never known anything beyond the red-light district, learning a new trade—be it tailoring, handicraft work, catering, or digital skills—is empowering in every sense. Purnkuti also helps them open bank accounts, enroll in adult education programs, and reconnect with family members when possible.

But Sneha didn’t stop at helping women. She knew that true change could only happen by breaking the cycle at its root, protecting and educating the children growing up in these environments.

Children in the crosshairs

Purnkuti runs daycare and bridge education centers near red-light areas. These centers provide a safe, nurturing environment for children while their mothers work. Many of these kids have never gone to school or have dropped out due to the instability at home.

The centre provides: Bridge education to bring children up to grade level, nutritious meals to combat malnourishment, counseling and therapy to address trauma and extracurricular activities to nurture creativity and confidence.

The most transformative aspect, perhaps, is the mentorship these children receive. For the first time, they have someone telling them that you are not alone and you are not your surroundings. You are not doomed to repeat this cycle. You deserve a better life.

Many children supported by Purnkuti have gone on to enroll in formal schools and pursue dreams that once seemed impossible from the narrow lanes of the red-light area.

A ripple effect 

What started as a modest operation now touches the lives of hundreds of women and children. But Sneha Bharti’s vision is larger: to create a nationwide model of intervention, rooted in compassion, consistency, and community partnership.

To that end, Purnkuti collaborates with law enforcement agencies, child welfare committees, mental health professionals, and vocational trainers. The organisation also works to sensitise society, fighting the stigma that continues to haunt survivors even after they leave the red-light areas. Sneha believes that without changing societal attitudes, no amount of rescue or rehabilitation will ever be enough.

Challenges along the way

Running an NGO like Purnkuti comes with enormous challenges. Threats from traffickers and pimps: Rescues are risky. Sneha and her team have faced threats and intimidation. Lack of funding: Sustaining holistic care, shelters, food, therapy, schooling, requires consistent donor support, which is often hard to come by.

Social stigma: Many survivors, even after rehabilitation, face discrimination when trying to find housing, employment, or even basic services.

Psychological trauma: Healing from years of abuse takes time. Many survivors suffer from PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Progress is often slow, requiring immense patience.

Purnkuti’s work depends on public support, and your contribution is critical to take the mission forward. Click the link to help.